Essex Free Press - June 18, 2020

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519-961-9610 @bradysdrugstore A LOOK INSIDE Health Unit releases results on Drive-Thru Random Testing PAGE 2 _______________ Essex Town Council Monday, June 15 PAGE 3 _______________ Canadian Cancer Society relays from home PAGE 9 _______________ Essex District High School class of 2020 PAGES 12 & 13 _______________ Leamington Council votes to end OPP contract PAGE 21 _______________ & MORE...

Thursday, June 18, 2020

Vol. 140

Issue No. 24

VIP grads rewarded with bike vouchers for putting in 20+ hours of community service - Cop Camp cancelled due to COVID-19 -

Looking For A Good Home Pictured are the students that were recognized in the parking lot of the Essex Centre Sports Complex on Sunday, for obtaining a minimum of 20 hours of community service through the OPP’s VIP program. The students were awarded with a $200 bike voucher and a plaque.

by Sylene Argent The COVID-19 “MIKA” pandemic may have See Page 5 for adoption info. halted in-class studies, and with it the OPP’s Values, Influences, and Peers (VIP) program that is taught to area grade six classes, but it did not stop Community Policing Officer, Sarah Werstein,

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from rewarding the students who went above and beyond the course requirements. As part of the annual VIP program, Werstein requires each of the students to earn one hour of community service, which helps the young learners to get a sense

of community pride and help them understand the importance of giving back. On Sunday, Werstein awarded 12 VIP students from within the Municipality of Essex with a $200 bike voucher for Canadian Tire and a plaque for

earning a minimum of 20 hours of community service throughout the schoolyear, despite it being cut short due to the pandemic. Most of those hours, she said, were earned between October and March. At the Harrow Arena

parking lot, Benny Kopka, Julia Perrone, and Lucas Marlatt of Harrow Public School, Trevor Benoit of Ste Ursule, and Rayden Kimball of St. Anthony were awarded. At the Essex Centre Sports Complex parking

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2 I News / Community Essex Free Press

I Thursday, June 18, 2020

Health Unit releases results on Drive-Thru Random Testing

submitted to EFP On May 22, Dr. Ahmed announced a plan for random drive-thru testing for Windsor-Essex in collaboration with Essex Windsor Emergency Medical Services (EWEMS) and the WindsorEssex Community Health Centre

(WECHC). Drive-thru testing was open to any resident of Windsor-Essex, 12-years and older, and rotated to each part of the region. Testing officially launched on May 29, 2020 in Windsor and concluded on June 12 in Lakeshore. Full days of testing were conducted at the following locations: May 29-31 - in Windsor June 2 - in Essex June 3 - in Kingsville June 4 - in Amherstburg June 5 - in Tecumseh

VIP grads rewarded with bike vouchers... Continued from Front Page

lot, Alice St. Louis and Noemi Marczinko of Colchester North Public School, Nash Laforest, Makenzi Knowler-Shanahan, and Keegan Stack of Essex Public School, and Lyndon Souchuk and Nathan Hanrahan of Holy Name Catholic Elementary School were awarded. While making the presentations to the students, Werstein congratulated the VIP grads on going above and beyond to earn the additional community service hours, and thanked their parents for supporting their children in obtaining those hours. She said some of the youth exceeded the 20-hour minimum. These 12 students would have been selected by their teachers to go to the week-

long Essex County OPP Cop Camp, which is held every August at GuessTwood Camp. Unfortunately, this year’s leadership camp was cancelled because of the Coronavirus. Every year, 80 graduates of the VIP program from OPP policed areas in Essex County are selected to participate in Cop Camp, based on their community service hours and their leadership qualities. The youth who are able to attend this fun-filled week, get to enjoy an array of activities, like boating, fishing, going to the movies, and bowling. Werstein noted this was the first time Cop Camp has been cancelled since it was established in 1994.

June 9 - in LaSalle June 11 - in Leamington June 12 - in Lakeshore

community. As well, random drive-thru testing allowed for increased accessibility by bringing testing and assessment to each community. In total, 4,916 individuals were tested during the 10 days of drivethru testing with 8 persons confirmed positive to date. Data related to random testing will be presented in more detail on Friday, June 19th, during Dr. Wajid Ahmed’s weekly Epidemiological summary.

Random testing was conducted to provide a sense of the prevalence of COVID-19 within Windsor-Essex. Random testing for COVID-19 is important as it provides better quality data for analysis, planning, and intervention through random sampling of the

Town of Essex - Community update on COVID-19 response submitted to EFP As of June 12, 2020, while the Town of Essex remains in the provincially mandated Phase 1 of reopening, the municipality is preparing for Phase 2. The Town’s Community Services staff are currently preparing for modified inperson programs and the addition of new online offerings. Staff are also preparing local sports fields and indoor facilities for reopening. Residents are asked to continue to respect social distancing when communicating with staff working in the public “We continue to urge our residents to observe physical distancing and limits to social gatherings, but we would like our community to know that we will be ready for Phase 2,” said Mayor Larry Snively. “Our staff have been proactive in preparing for how we will adapt with new requirements

and procedures to meet the needs of our citizens.” The Town has already significantly expanded its virtual recreation offerings, with more than 100 videos, activities, and live events posted online. The annual Tune Up the Parks concert series will also be hosted virtually. Town Hall and the Building & By-law Enforcement building are currently open to the public, but residents are asked to only attend facilities for essential visits. Visitors must wear masks and follow new procedures. A number of online services are also available to help limit in-person visits. For a full summary of changes to operations, please visit the town’s website at essex.ca. Residents can also contact the Town at 519-776-7336 for assistance during regular business hours (8:30am to 4:30pm).

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Thursday, June 18, 2020

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Essex Free Press

by Sylene Argent and Adam Gault CAO’s COVID-19 report Chris Nepszy, CAO, provided Essex Council with a COVID-19 update, as it pertains to the business for the Town of Essex, during the virtual meeting held on Monday night. Business of the Town of Essex: Nepszy said staff continues to make tweaks based on comments heard from residents at the facilities that have been open for several weeks, such as the Colchester Harbour, the Municipal Building, and the facility in Gesto. He said things have been smooth to date for the most part, and this is due to the good signage and protocols staff implemented prior to the facilities getting reopened. As it relates to the community services department with the Town of Essex, staff members are looking to prepare facilities to be ready for then they can be reopened. This will ensure there is no delay. This means the sports fields will be ready for practices only. Harrow Minor Soccer, Harrow Minor Baseball, and Essex Minor Soccer have cancelled their seasons, which he said is disappointing. The splashpads are also being prepared, and the indoor pool is being prepared to allow people in and access the change rooms. Patrons will have to register. Everything will be done within ministry guidelines. The Town will offer private swim lessons. Nepszy said the Town is close to being able to open public washrooms. The safety of the public and staff have to be considered. When the time is right, Councillor Steve Bjorkman hoped the public washrooms at the Colchester Harbour and Beach would be first to be open as it is an end-of-the-line trip area. Nepszy said the bathrooms there would be first to open. Nepszy hoped when everything reopens that Council tours facilities to see what residents will do upon entering. In regards to hosting Council meetings back in Council Chambers, Nepszy said it can’t come soon enough. He is working with CFTV on producing a live demo that will work, as if the public is not allowed in, they have to have access to watching the meeting. Delegations will have to be done via Zoom. He hopes to be in the Council Chambers in July. Deputy Mayor Richard Meloche had concerns with getting back in the Council Chambers for meetings too early, in wanting to keep those in his social bubble safe. Councillor Vander Doelen wondered if there was a way to allow some of the Councillors who are not comfortable attending a Council meeting in person to do so via Zoom as well. Nepszy said all Provincial protocols would be followed to do this. Council pushing for mandatory testing in farm industry: Nepszy said he and Mayor Larry Snively were on a conference call that morning with Windsor Essex County Health Unit’s Dr. Ahmed and other mayors and CAOs of neighbouring municipalities. Nepszy said the region was disappointed to not be able to move onto phase two of reopening, and there was a lot of discussion about this during that conference call. There was a lot of discussion about why that is, why numbers are high in the region, and how the region can focus on getting to phase two of reopening. A lot of questions were asked about mandatory testing, and what can be done to flatten the curve and be able to move into phase two. “Not a lot of answers, but at least a lot of questions…are being asked,” Nepszy said, adding it seems it is the numbers of positive cases in the area that is keeping the region in phase one. Snively said it was a very disappointing meeting. He

GOT ENOUGH COVERAGE?

- Monday, June 15, 2020 thought the region was headed in the right direction, but indications are that the area is heading in the opposite direction in regards to numbers. The number of positive cases has doubled since last month, he said, “Which is a very disappointing report from the Doctor.” While on the call, Snively said he brought up to the Board that testing should be mandatory, as it is known where the hot spots are, and one of the hots spots is in the Leamington and Kingsville area, with the farm industry. The issue with testing is that they could be negative at the time of the test, but get infected the following day, Snively said, wondering if the farm industry can be pressured into making testing mandatory for employees. He said he was told by senior levels of government that is not possible, but he believes if the virus continues to grow as it is, it will come down to that. Councillor Kim Verbeek agreed that the region would never be able to move on to phase two if the elephant in the room is not addressed. The farming sector has been identified as a hot spot. This time, Essex could be at the forefront, and she did prepare an emergency notice of motion, that the Town of Essex Council ask for urgent and emergency action in support of local farm workers, from all levels of government. That the local Health Unit, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Agriculture, and Ministry of Labour all come together immediately to stop this spread of COVID-19 in the local farm worker population. The health and welfare of farm workers is vital to the community and opening up of the local economy. There needs to be testing, tracking, and tracing, she said. Council passed it unanimously under a different section of the meeting. She hoped other municipalities would follow suit. Deputy Mayor Richard Meloche will also talk to Dr. Ahmed to express the concerns of Council. He thinks testing should be on a regular basis. He did not know if there was a way to segregate that portion of the Continued on Page 5

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4 I Opinion Essex Free Press

Editorial &Opinion Serving Essex and the surrounding communities since 1896.

Published Thursdays as an independent weekly newspaper, owned and operated by The Essex Voice Limited. A London Publishing Corporation Publication LIMITED OFFICE HOURS: Limited staff working from the office. Email or Call with submission inquiries. OUR STAFF Sandy Kennedy / Andrew Beaudoin - Office Jessica Azar - Graphic Design / Social Media / Production Lana Warwick - Graphic Design Greg Belchuk - Advertising Sales Manager Sylene Argent - Editor/News Reporter Shelley Beaudoin - Graphic Design / Production

CIRCULATION The Essex Free Press is an audited publication with controlled circulation of 10,000.

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I Thursday, June 18, 2020

Howling at the Moon ••• Comment by Sylene Argent ••• Having to apologize

I really do pride myself on being that person who takes the high road. I hate drama and I hate wasting energy on negativity. I typically try to be the voice of reason; that person who, when even upset, fights with facts, not feelings. But, that wasn’t necessarily the case the other day, when I had gotten upset at something someone said, and ended up saying something harsh instead. And, I don’t mind being harsh if I need to be, sometimes we all need to hear someone be blunt with us. But this time, my words were more of a generalization that was taken personally, and feelings were a bit hurt. I felt bad, and had to apologize. And, that is something I have never been good at. I typically go out of my way to handle situations delicately, even when I’m really mad, so I don’t say things that are more hurtful than helpful. But, we all have that one

person in our lives, or maybe a few, whom we just can’t possibly see eye-to-eye with and things can escalate quickly. Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr. is quoted as having said, “Apology is only egotism wrong side out.” It sucks admitting you are wrong, or acted inappropriately. I am sure stress has gotten to me, but it can’t be an excuse. It is just a factor. And, I reminded myself I need to do better. The old adage is, “If you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything at all.” And, though this is generally a decent rule of thumb, there are times when things do need to be said that may not be nice, but someone may need to hear, for their own benefit. We all need to be humbled sometimes, and put back on track if we get derailed. It is not to say one should take joy in delivering harsh realities, we

should take extra care in expressing our opinions when the time is right, in the right way. Perhaps it is in those moments when we feel downtrodden and exhausted that we look for ways to compliment or help those around us. Not in a way of being fake, but to say those nice things we should have said already, or things we should have already done, but maybe have not taken the time to. It may sound a little self-serving, but maybe putting a little effort into making someone else’s day a little brighter, may lift our own spirits in the process as a nice side-effect. And, that may just prevent us from saying those things we really didn’t mean.

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OPINION & COMMENT The opinions expressed on these pages are those of their original authors and do not necessarily represent the opinion of the Essex Free Press, its Editor or Publisher.

Editorial Content

LETTER POLICY

Anti-Black racism is a public health crisis and it demands urgent action

The Essex Free Press welcomes letters to the editor on topics of interest to our readers. Letters should be typed or neatly handwritten and present the issues as clearly as possible in 300 words or less. We reserve the right to edit for length, grammar, and legal considerations. All letters must contain the name, address, and daytime phone number of the writer for verification purposes. Anonymous letters will not be considered for publication. If you have a legitimate concern and cannot sign your name to a letter, please contact the editor to discuss alternative means of handling the issue.

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submitted by CUPE Ontario The Government of Ontario must immediately declare anti-Black racism a public health crisis, says the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Ontario, echoing a call by a coalition of Black community health leaders. “Anti-Black racism has undeniably harmful effects on Black Ontarians,” said Fred Hahn, President of CUPE Ontario. “We need to name what happens to Black people when it comes to policing, workplace discrimination the stress it causes, and so much more as a public health crisis requiring urgent and comprehensive action.” The advocacy of the coalition - Alliance for Healthier Communities, the Black Health Committee, the Black Health Alliance, and the Network for Advancement of Black Communities - led to the Toronto Board of Health unanimously voting to recognize anti-Black racism as a public health crisis. CUPE Ontario joins the coalition in calling on the province to do the same, saying that the recognition would open the door to make swift and effective action against antiblack racism possible. “We’ve all seen the scope available, and how quickly government can act during a public health emergency,” said Hahn. “It is long past time, to acknowledge that fighting anti-black racism needs the same scale and speed.” Black community leaders and organizations must be consulted about the actions to be taken, like

immediately collecting and releasing race-based pandemic data, as well as reversing cuts to the Anti-Racism Directorate and re-starting plans to increase oversight of Ontario police, according to CUPE Ontario. “Those of us who are on the front-lines and are Black are at serious risk,” said Veriline Howe, chair of CUPE Ontario’s Racial Justice Committee and a developmental services worker. “70 per cent of my colleagues are racialized, with many of them Black. We know we’re being impacted the most, but we need the government to collect race-based data to help create the best measures possible.” While the Ford Conservatives committed to collecting race-based data, they have yet to do so, claiming that it requires regulatory changes and that local public health units could take on the task on a voluntary basis. “This is really a question of political will,” said Candace Rennick, Secretary-Treasurer of CUPE Ontario. “The province has sped up other regulatory changes during the pandemic. It can and must do so again.”


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Essex Free Press

Essex Council Notes for June 15... community to allow the rest of the region to open up. Councillor Joe Garon said this region is not the only one that has migrant workers, other communities do and he suspects they are open. He wondered who decides what region gets open up. Nepszy said he asked the same question to Dr. Ahmed, who said the Premier asked the local health units to collect data and provide opinions, but he was not sure how much influence health units have. “If we do not move into phase two shortly, there is going to be a lot of businesses not [going] to be reopen at all. And that’s a shame. We have to really, really push,” Snively said. Dog tags purchase price to remain at stage one cost: Council voted to allow the costs of dog tags to remain at its stage one price, during to COVID-19. Clerk Robert Auger explained the price of dog tags typically raise on April 1, then again on July 1. Development “tool box” discussed for town Council received a verbal report from Essex CAO Chris Nepszy, regarding the development of a “tool box” to assist with large scale developments for the Town of Essex. A policy such as this would allow the possibility of providing financial assistance for large-scale development as it relates to front-end loading a portion of a developer’s upfront costs in an accountable and upfront manner. “This really would pertain to the Essex Crossing [housing] development, and we would look at that as a potential pilot or initial project to give consideration to this,” Nepszy explained. “We’re hoping it’s going to lead to the formation of a policy that can be used to guide future large-scale development applications.” The policy would identify a consistent approach to

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the cost sharing structure and to the repayment plan between developers and the municipality. “It can’t be dependent on sales. It’s got to be some fixed repayment plan. We want to make sure we identify what the acceptable level of risk would be for the municipality,” Nepszy said. “We would need to know proper consultation. It comes down to developing that policy with the criteria and a guide to consider.” This policy could potentially lead to kickstarting many area projects, which have been in development limbo – and according the CAO – could have a tremendous impact on large scale housing developments within the town. With the support of Council, Nepszy and Administration will continue to explore the implementation of the development tool box, and will report back to Council with potential next steps.

and would be made available until August 31, or when all funds have been spent. Councillor Kim Verbeek thanked Silveira as she thought it was a great initiative, but she said there are still many who are not engaged on social media. She wondered if a similar program could be brought forward using the two local newspapers, perhaps in paying for a portion of advertising. This way, the businesses can get in print, and drive people to their social media accounts. This is a win/win, she said, because it is important to support the local papers. Silveira said that is something to consider. The main purpose of this grant is to make that shift to digital. He said there is some value in print advertising as well, but the majority of advertisements, and the effectiveness of advertising, has moved towards digital. If businesses are making an effort to go digital, newspaper ads could be considered through this application process. Verbeek said some may not want to drive to digital,

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Council approves $15,000 digital grant for businesses -Verbeek suggests similar program for newspaper advertisingCouncil received Economic Development’s report, “Business Support during COVID-19,” that Nelson Silveira, Economic Development Officer, prepared, and further approved $15000 in COVID-19 related funding to support the Town of Essex Digital Growth Grant in 2020. Silveira said the Town of Essex Digital Growth Grant is intended to provide up to 20 businesses with up to $1,000 of one-time, non-repayable funding to allow a business to better focus on digital activities and strategies for a stronger online presence. This can include setting up an online store, creating tools to provide services online, subscription costs for online tools or services, staff training for digital technology, digital marketing (like social media ads), or other digital growth needs. There is a criteria for eligibility. The Town has partnered with the Small Business Centre for this program to help review applications and to provide access to its Digital Squad. The Essex Centre Business Improvement Area contributed $5000. The Harrow & Colchester South Chamber of Commerce was unable to forward a financial contribution at this time. The grant would be available on a first-come, firstserve basis. Submissions for the Town of Essex Digital Growth Grant would commence upon Council approval

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Essex Council Notes for June 15... but she would like to see a similar program to benefit the newspapers. Silveira said this can be considered, and perhaps it is something business will ask for. Councillor Steve Bjorkman liked the partnerships with the digital grant program, but noted there is some urgency for patios. He said the Town needs to find a way to accommodate businesses wanting to extend their footprints or liquor licensing, when the Province gives the go ahead, and the Town will have to be ready to assist. Lori Chadwick, Director of Development Services, said staff is already preparing for this. Businesses have said they will be looking for support to extend their patios and possibly liquor licenses. She added the Town will be ready to receive the applications and working to look at this in terms of municipal property that could be used. This includes legalities. In the report to Council, it notes that on March 30, the Town of Essex initiated an online survey to study the impact the current pandemic has had on the local business community. Thirty surveys were completed. Results indicated that of the respondents, 56.3 percent have laid off all employees. A large majority indicated they experienced a loss of business and have also implemented temporary changes to their operations. The temporary suspension of operations and the cutting of unnecessary costs were the most popular measures to offset impact. The Town has also hosted a 12-days of giveaways campaign to promote shopping locally and launched an open for business map. In addition, Town staff has also looked to the Essex Centre BIA and the Harrow & Colchester South Chamber of Commerce to learn about additional ways the Town can provide support. Deputy Mayor Richard Meloche told staff not to hesitate to ask Council for another meeting next Monday as it pertains to the encroachments of extending

Continued from Page 5

business footprints and liquor licenses to help businesses succeed, if it is needed Site Plan Control approved for commercial development A Site Plan Control Approval was passed by Council, which will allow for the development of a commercial warehouse at the corner of County Road 20 and Ferriss Rd in Harrow. With this approval, construction will be slated to begin on the 15,000 square foot structure for Classy Caps MFG INC, which will be in addition to its current building. Classy Caps MFG. INC. has manufactured a number of unique outdoor solar lighting options for nearly 20 years. The proposed warehouse is a pre-engineered steel building to be used strictly for the warehousing of their products. The existing block building will be utilized as an office space and the existing pole barn will be utilized as a warehouse for the repackaging of products. Repeal of Site Plan Control at South Talbot and Highway 3 Council approved the repeal of Site Plan Control on South Talbot, southeast of Highway 3, to allow a parcel of land directly south of McDonald’s to be conveyed to the Ministry of Transportation to facilitate the reconfiguration of South Talbot Road. This will help to accommodate heavier traffic volumes when South Talbot Road and South Talbot Road North are connected from an arterial road connecting Victoria Avenue to Maidstone Avenue to compensate for the elimination of the intersection at Victoria and Highway 3. This is in anticipation of the construction of the Victoria to North Malden underpass, which will eliminate the ability to exit Highway 3 at Victoria Avenue. Portuguese Club of Harrow seeks tax relief Essex Council received correspondence from the Portuguese Club of Harrow, seeking a program for property tax forgiveness. In their letter, a club representative stated that the approved tax deferral until July 31 would not be sufficient as they would still have to pay the full tax in time, and that, with the cancellation of over 80 percent of its 2020 events, the club’s future would be in jeopardy. Councillor Steve Bjorkman put forward a motion to reach out to Essex area MPPs, to request that the province look into relief for all area service clubs. “Let’s have the whole of Essex County go back to the Province and say ‘we’re the only ones sitting here and everybody else is working,’” Bjorkman said. “Everybody else is getting

I Thursday, June 18, 2020

their money, making their money, except these groups.” Mayor Larry Snively added that this was an issue he and the Deputy Mayor Richard Meloche would take before County Council and seek their support at this week’s meeting.

Deputy Mayor looks for update on caution signs Recently, Deputy Mayor Richard Meloche asked staff to look into Town-issued caution signs, such as for autism, children at play, and animal crossings. He said there was a near miss with an autistic child on South Talbot, and though staff is preparing a general report on this matter, he hoped this situation could be addressed sooner. Kevin Girard, Director of Infrastructure, said he would look into this particular matter and report back to Council.

NoM: RE: 50km extends on 3rd Concession to McLean Sideroad Councillor Sherry Bondy put forward a Notice of Motion at the June 1 meeting for discussion at Monday’s meeting. This was to have Council consider approving an extension of the 50km speed limit zone on the 3rd Concession to include east of McLean Sideroad to act as a buffer zone. She said she raised the issue to get feedback. Speeding is an issue down this road, and noted the OPP has stepped up its presence down there in the past few weeks, which she was happy with. She said this matter can wait until Town staff has completed its road policy report. She withdrew the motion. Mayor Larry Snively said speeding has been an issue there, and he has been pushing for radar. He said most of those getting fined on that road for speeding live on that road. Councillor Chris Vander Doelen said speeding is an issue on every road. If limits are risen or dropped unfairly, it inspires contempt from drivers because it is viewed as unreasonable. Director of Infrastructure, Kevin Girard, said he is working on a policy for speed modifications within the Town of Essex, which will help address matters like this. One of the key factors is ensuring the speed is appropriate for the road.

NoM: Evaluation of ELK Energy Councillor Sherry Body presented a Notice of Motion to be discussed at the July 6 meeting. It will ask Council to designate funds from the 2021 budget process to hire a consultant to evaluate ELK Energy, as it is a town asset.

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Puzzles and activities for readers of all ages!

1. Japanese classical theater 4. Chess pieces 9. Pieces of writing 14. Doctors’ group 15. Capital of Guam 16. Type of turtle 17. Swiss river 18. MLB Hall of Famer 20. Places to sit 22. Fancy rides 23. One of Washington’s Tri-Cities 24. Without class 28. Male child 29. Keeps you cool 30. Biblical place 31. Italian city 33. District in central Turkey 37. Job for a grad student 38. Central nervous system 39. Arrange in steps

41. Witch 42. Promotional material 43. Having certain appendages 44. Approaches 46. One who did it (slang) 49. Of I 50. Blood relation 51. Works out 55. Female given name 58. Isaac’s mother (Bib.) 59. Makes someone happy 60. Creative 64. Small, faint constellation 65. S. American trees 66. Makes simpler 67. Neither 68. We all need it 69. Unique plastic utensil 70. Thyroid-stimulating hormone (abbr.)

1. Civil Rights group ! 31. Long, leafless flower stalk 2. Metropolis 32. Categorize 3. Badgers 34. Loads 4. Regular business given to 35. Indicates position a store 36. Unreasonable 5. Gets older 40. Dorm worker 6. A bundle of banknotes 41. Dweller 7. Midway between north and 45. Welsh female name meaning northwest “snow” 8. Takes to the sea 47. Offering again 9. Prestigious film prize: __ d’or 48. National capital 10. Baltimore ballplayer 52. Firm, dry and brittle 11. Removed 53. 007’s creator 12. Term of respect 54. Allied H.Q. 13. Genus containing pigs 56. Mackerels 19. Illumined 57. Month of the Hindu year 21. One who symbolizes 59. Not odd something 60. Belonging to a thing 24. Member of a Turkic people 61. “Boardwalk Empire” actress 25. The academic world Gretchen 26. “Key to the Highway” bluesman 62. Religion 27. Hang-ups 63. Equal, prefix

See Activity Solutions on Page 19

Find the words hidden vertically, horizontally, diagonally, and backwards.

BEACH BOARDWALK BOAT BOOK COASTLINE DIVE

LAUGHING METAL DETECTOR PICNIC RELAX RIPTIDE

sudoku

SANDCASTLE SCENERY SEA AIR SHOVELS SPLASHING SUNSCREEN SURF

TAFFY TOWEL UMBRELLA UNDERTOW VOLLEYBALL WAVES

Here’s How It Works: Sudoku puzzles are formatted as a 9x9 grid, broken down into nine 3x3 boxes. To solve a sudoku, the numbers 1 through 9 must fill each row, column and box. Each number can appear only once in each row, column and box. You can figure out the order in which the numbers will appear by using the numeric clues already provided in the boxes. The more numbers you name, the easier it gets to solve the puzzle!


Thursday, June 18, 2020 I

Community I 9

Essex Free Press

Canadian Cancer Society relays from home Photos submitted

by Sylene Argent Every year, the Canadian Cancer Society brings together community members who have been touched by cancer in some way to celebrate survivors, remember those who have passed on, and raise funds for research through the annual Relay for Life events held across the nation. With COVID-19 restrictions limiting social gatherings this year, the Canadian Cancer Society instead hosted a nationwide Relay from Home event on Saturday evening, with hope to still capture the atmosphere of the regular event, while still raising funds for the cause. While the annual Relay for Life event typically takes place over a 12hour period, Relay from Home offered a two-hour online event, that encouraged

b team members to hhost ffun activities from their own home. The livestream included an opening ceremony, the history of Relay for Life, a survivor ceremony, team activities, a luminary ceremony, and live entertainment from Canadian artists Brett Kissel, Paul Langlois from The Tragically Hip, Joel Plaskett, The Reklaws, Peter Katz, Virginia to Vegas, and versaCello. Mindy Glover and Mandy Stein are the volunteer Co-Chairpersons for the WindsorEssex Relay for Life event, which takes place annually. Glover said when COVID-19 hit and they were informed the in-person event would not take place this year, nobody knew what was going to happen. “We weren’t given a solution or alternate event information, because even National didn’t know. There

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w just so much uncertainty.” was She said they didn’t want the event t get cancelled, so they were pleased to t learn about the online, Relay from to H Home, alternative. “COVID-19 is very m much different and separate from cancer. C Cancer is still happening. Patients still n need treatment; people are still being d diagnosed. Education work still needs t be done. We still need those funds to t support that research and for those to t treatments,” she said, adding the area is llucky to have a research lab, operated b Dr. Lisa Porter, at the University of by W Windsor. When the online Relay from Home i idea was launched, the individual Relay f Life committees, from across Canada, for w were tasked to find a way to tailor the n national event to their community through uusing social media to give it a local flair. The local Relay for Life committee planned a social media calendar that spanned over a month. For instance, there was Mission Monday, Team Tuesday, Warrior Wednesday, Throwback Thursday, and Friends of Relay Friday. During these days, they would feature local partners to engage the community. The weekends were used to announce activities or contests. During the week leading up to Relay from home, they structured their outreach to included themed days, designed after the various parts of the 12-hour annual event. This included a Zumba workout, a tribute to survivors, a bagpipe performance, and an explanation about the luminary ceremony, which recognizes those who have passed.

Glover said it was done in a way to trigger the same emotions as the in-person event. “That was kind of how our role as committee members shifted. Instead of planning and facilitating this 12-hour, inperson event, we now had to still try to keep up some of the momentum and excitement, while everyone is at home, while also making this experience unique,” Glover said, adding it was also important to keep sponsors and participants interested for the future, with the hope the event could take place in-person in 2021. It was free to register for Relay at Home, and it was a great way to attract new participants, especially the younger audience members, Glover said. The annual Relay for Life event, Glover

Continued on Page 14


10 I Community Essex Free Press

I Thursday, June 18, 2020

Colchester North valedictorian ready for online graduation by Sylene Argent When grade eight Colchester North Public School student Alexa Soucie found out she was selected to be the class valedictorian of her graduating class, she was elated as this was a role she has striven to obtain since the beginning of the schoolyear. Throughout the schoolyear, in order to obtain the award, Soucie tried her best to keep her grades up and followed the success criteria as part of the class curriculum. She also wrote her speech early on and had it reviewed by several individuals. “I read it almost every night, just to create fluency,

that type of thing, before I submitted it,” Soucie said. Her teacher, Mr. Klassen, had all the students write a speech as an assignment. From there, he chose a few students to be in the running for the position of class valedictorian. The finalists read it to the class during an online call, and the students voted for their favourite. Teachers also had some input on selecting the winner. “I was very grateful. I wanted it very badly,” Soucie said of learning she earned the role that will entrust her to send her classmates off to secondary school. Soucie, who will attend Villanova in the fall,

Essex Lions

COMMUNITY

CHALLENGE Help your neighbours and yourself during this challenging time! 1.) Make out your cheque (minimum $200) to one of these priority charities: a) Essex Area Food Bank b) Erie Shores Hospice c) Hiatus House 2.) Send cheque with your name, post and e-mail addresses and phone number to: Essex & District Lions Club, P.O. Box 154, Essex, ON N8M 2Y2 3.) In return you will get a 2020 tax receipt and one year FREE membership to Essex Lions Club

IT’S THAT EASY! Your community and Essex Lions Thank You! Free membership may be limited to first 15 cheques mailed before June 30, 2020. For more info contact Robert Garrod 519-253-1341

focused on cherishing memories, such as past field trips, as the theme of her speech. In addition,

she also wrote about the transition from grade eight to grade nine, and moving on into a brighter future.

She will pre-record her speech, and it will be added to a graduation video that will be complete with the

announcement of subject awards and words of wisdom and congratulations

Continued on Page 14


Thursday, June 18, 2020

I

News I 11

Essex Free Press

Council Connect: Highlights from the June 9, 2020 Regular Meeting of Council submitted to EFP COVID-19 Financial Relief: Council received a report outlining the extension of financial relief measures due to the COVID-19 pandemic to July 31, 2020. The financial measures being extended to the end of July include: waiving late payment penalty/interest charges associated with property taxation; waiving “non-sufficient funds” charges on property tax payments; extending the Dog Tag/Licence fee of $20 and the Kennel License fee of $100; and waiving transit fares for Tecumseh Transit. Additionally, the Treasurer will request that Essex Powerlines agree to waive late payment penalty/interest charges associated with water/wastewater billing. Cancellation of Summer Events: Council received a report from the Parks and Recreation Department recommending the cancellation of upcoming recreational events due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and provincial orders restricting public gatherings. The events slated for cancellation are: the Summer Concert Series, Canada Day Celebrations, Outdoor Movie Nights and the End of Summer Celebration. Administration will be promoting a Virtual Canada Day 2020 Celebration hosted by the Government of Canada through Canadian Heritage. The Virtual celebration is a live broadcast that will include performances from across Canada. A link will be placed on the Town’s website for residents to join the festivities from the safety of their own home. Committee of Adjustment and Public Consultation: Council received a report on the commencement of electronic meetings of the Committee of Adjustment. Since the pandemic began in-person meetings have been replaced to a large extent by electronic meetings. Early this

spring, the Province passed a regulation permitting municipalities to change their rules of procedure to permit e-meetings during a declared emergency for Council and its appointed committees and boards, Town Council has amended its rules of procedure accordingly and meets regularly via ZOOM over the internet. Similarly, the Tecumseh Police Services Board and the Tecumseh BIA have begun to hold e-meetings. Administration has worked to develop a process to begin holding Committee of Adjustment meetings through electronic means and the first meeting is scheduled for June 29, 2020. Consent to sever land and minor variance applications are heard and determined by the Town’s Committee of Adjustment. Minor variance requests primarily facilitate minor developments (minor building additions, pool installations, heating/cooling units) that are typically of interest to the immediate neighbourhood of the property involved. The meetings of the Committee of Adjustment are public meetings and measures are in place to permit the public to participate electronically. Administration continues to work through a process to facilitate public meetings of Council for other planning application types, such as zoning and Official Plan amendments. Tecumseh Road Sanitary Sewer Replacement: Council received an update on the construction schedule and public notification strategy for the Tecumseh Road sanitary sewer replacement project from Lesperance Road to Southfield Drive. The approximately $1.5 million tender was awarded to D’Amore Construction at the March 24, 2020 Regular Meeting of Council. As a result of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and restrictions on public gatherings, the original plan

to hold a Public Information Centre to provide details on the upcoming work is not feasible. Instead, notices will be mailed to adjacent landowners in advance of construction with links to an online presentation to provide an overview of the project. Advance notification boards will be placed on Tecumseh Road for drivers advising of road impacts. Ongoing road closure details will be shared electronically. The project is expected to begin in mid-July and see substantial completion by the end of November 2020 weather permitting. 2020-2024 Public Works and Environmental Services 5 Year Plan: Council approved the addition of the Manning Road Pump Station-Fish Pond Inlet Erosion Repair project to the 20202024 Public Works and Environmental Services (PWES) 5 Year Plan and authorized the approximately $100,000 cost for the work to be paid from the Storm Lifecycle Reserve. The fish habitat area was incorporated into the pump station reconstruction project in 2012 and due to high lake levels and strong winds, the east bank has eroded. Continued erosion could potentially undermine the stability of the fence and walkway causing safety risks to pedestrians. Dillon Consulting will

undertake the detailed design, contract administration and on site services for the work which is expected to begin following the July 15 in-water work restrictions. Source Protection Annual Progress Report: Council heard from the Essex Region Conservation Authority (ERCA) on the Progress on the Essex Region Source Protection Plan in 2019. The Essex Region Source Protection Plan (SPP) is a local watershed-based plan for the protection of drinking water supplies. The Essex Region SPP was developed by a local Source Protection Committee in consultation with municipalities, community groups and residents and came into effect on October 1, 2015. The SPP contains policies to ensure that identified risks are prohibited, or managed in a way that protects our drinking water. An annual report is mandated by the Plan and the 2019 Source Protection Annual Progress Report outlines that overall significant progress is being made in Tecumseh to protect our drinking water at its source. The next Regular Meeting of Council is Tuesday, June 23, 2020. The meeting is scheduled to be held electronically. The live stream will be available on our website at www.tecumseh.ca.

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12 | Special Feature

Auto Insurance, Business Insurance, Home & Property Insurance, Life Insurance, Living Benefits, Vehicle Loans

Essex Free Press

| Thursday, June 18, 2020

Thursday, June 18, 2020 |

Special Feature | 13

Essex Free Press

Congratulations

s Congaradts! Gr

10 Victoria Ave. Essex Ontario, N8M 1M3 Phone: 519-776-8001 Fax: 519-776-5333 Email: bob@bobleyte.com Website: www.bobleyte.com

on your achievements Class of 2020!

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Warmest congratulations on your graduation! 2119 County Road 15, Essex | 519-776-6473 | www.lapain.ca


14 I Community Essex Free Press

Colchester North valedictorian ready for online graduation...

Photo of Alexa Soucie - submitted

from their teachers and administrators. This video will be accessible to her classmates this week. “I think it will be really exciting,” she said to being able to see that graduation video. In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, Soucie said she was pleased to learn her school was compiling a grad video for its grade eight students. She was not worried about losing some kind of celebration for graduation, knowing her school would find a way to celebrate it. She knows some of her peers have chosen to attend different high schools, and that will be, “An exciting, different experience. I think we will all do pretty well wherever we go. I just wish everybody the best.” She said the COVID-19 pandemic has created some difficulty when it comes to learning over the past few months. There are class calls Home Hardware H H d and her peers are keeping in touch the best they can. $ “It has definitely been a different experience being at

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home, away from people, not studying in class, not having a teacher at the whiteboard talking to us,” she said. Overall, Soucie said attending Colchester North was a great experience. The students, teachers, and sports teams are what made her elementary school days so memorable, in addition to the field trips and school-wide events. Soucie – who played on the volleyball, basketball, and baseball teams – said she will miss participating in sports the most, and accomplishing success with her teammates. “We really came together,” she said. She also enjoyed being a part of the group that provided art for the annual play. In the classroom, she especially enjoyed taking art class to perfect her painting and drawing skills, in addition to taking on math challenges. She said she always seemed to have a good understanding of math, but also enjoys tackling tough equations. Grade eight teacher, Kevin Klassen, said this year’s class was a lot of fun to teach. “They worked hard in the classroom and had a great sense of humour. Many of them demonstrated resilience and determination during our remote learning.” He wished all the graduates all the best in their first year of high school and beyond.

Continued from Page 9

HOURS: MON-FRI 7-8, SAT 7-6, SUN 9-5

776-4646

said, is a multifaceted event that remembers those who have passed, celebrates survivors, and creates hopes for those living with cancer. “It is like a rollercoaster of emotion. We always try to keep it relatively positive, while honouring the memory of people who passed, because we always want there to be hope. And,

we want people to remember that the reason we all come together is because we all have hope. There is nothing more powerful than hope, especially when a bunch of people come together with a common goal, and hope for a cure, or hope for a better treatment, or a better prognosis for all of us,” Glover commented.

Happy Father’s Day – Sunday, June 21st –

CHRIS LEWIS, MP Essex

Continued from Page 10

Canadian Cancer Society relays from home...

S DAY ’ R E FATH UNDAYT, IS S 21S JUNE

Essex & Tecumseh Stores Only

I Thursday, June 18, 2020

CHRIS.LEWIS@PARL.GC.CA

519.776.4700

Glover got involved with Relay for Life because the summer before she started grade 12, her cousin, who was the same age, starts with brain cancer. She ended up having a stroke the day before school began, and never came out of a coma. She said that experience was “a huge wake-up call.” She wanted to do what she could to prevent that from happening to someone else. According to the Relay for Life website, the nationwide Relay from Home event raised $4,234,683, and the website will continue to collect donations until August 13. Last year’s Windsor-Essex County Relay for Life event raised $90,000. Donations were still accepted for thirty days after the event, which raised the total to $111,000. The interesting part of Relay for Life, Glover added, is that it funds all types of cancer. The funding goes into one pot, and then gets distributed to fund research, advocacy and education programs, and to raise further funds through programs, such as the Daffodil Campaign. Those funds also support Canadian Cancer Society programs, such as Wheels for Hope, which helps bring cancer patients to their treatment. The Relay from Home event can be viewed from the Canadian Cancer Society Facebook page.


Thursday, June 18, 2020

I

Essex Free Press

Ad Feature I 15


16 I Classifieds Essex Free Press

Classifieds _______________________________________________

HELP WANTED

_______________________________________________

Fax: 519.776.4014

_____________________

FARMING _____________________ WANTED Farm Land to Rent Cash or Share Crop Call Jeff Siefker (cell) 519-796-1240 or (home) 519-776-9501.

FOR SALE _____________________ KARMA GARDENS ROADSIDE VEGGIE STAND. Fresh picked greens and veg. Always local, always organic. Corner of Michael & Brien. On Facebook, search: Karma Gardens - Essex 24-2* _____________________

1-t

HELP WANTED _______________________________________________

The Essex County Nurse Prac oner-Led Clinic (ECNPLC) is seeking out an individual to join our team. The uniqueness of this clinic promotes an interdisciplinary model of care led by Nurse Prac oners and includes a variety of interdisciplinary health professionals.

FOR SALE _____________________

SERVICES _____________________

FARMING MACHINERY  1979 Tractor, 53 HP., 4200hrs, 8ft. blade, $9400.00 6 row 30” row crop cultivator, $600.00. - 180 Bu. V-box with running gear $600.00. - 8ft.x3ft. Antique roller with hose hitch $400.00 stored inside. Excellent. Call: 519-737-1183 (Tractor) & 519-737-6419 (others). 22-2* _____________________

MARTY’S SMALL ENGINE REPAIRS  Tune-ups, repairs, & service on snowblowers, riding lawn mowers, chainsaws, & more! 519-733-0986, (c) 4-tfn 519-965-5918. _____________________

FOR SALE _____________________ 100% COTTON FACE MASKS  Sewn locally with new, natural fabrics, for non-medical use. Washable & reusable. Starting at $10 tax incl. A variety of colours, styles, sizes. Email or Call 226221-9061, Healthymasks7@gmail.com. 24-3*

21-4t*

FOR RENT

_____________________ GARAGE FOR RENT - 245 Talbot St. South, Essex, Ontario. Available August 1, 2020. Call: 519-326-3594. 25-7t _____________________

Administra ve Assistant (part me permanent) For addi onal informa on about the Essex County Nurse Prac oner-Led Clinics please visit our website.

Closing Date: June 23, 2020 at 4:30 pm (No phone calls please) Only those selected for an interview will be contacted. The Essex County Nurse Prac oner-Led Clinic is commi ed to employment equity.

CLASSIFIEDS

WORK! Advertise here! 16 Centre St., Essex www.essexfreepress.com

519.776.4268

Final Tax Notice If you own property in the Town of Essex you should receive your final tax notice in mid-July. The final two installments of property tax payments are due July 31 and October 30. To ease the financial pressure caused by COVID-19, the Town will waive late payment charges (including penalties and interest) and the Town’s non-sufficient fund charges on all property tax accounts through the period ending July 31, 2020. Please note all pre-authorized payment withdrawals will continue to be taken on the scheduled dates unless otherwise cancelled by the property owner.

Pay Your Property Tax Bills Online Residents can now check their Property Tax account and pay their bills online using Virtual City Hall system. Register online at essex.ca/VCH To activate your account, you will need your Tax Roll and Account Numbers, both of which are on your tax notice. Please note, Virtual City Hall fees have also been waived until December 31, 2020.

Changes to Credit Card Payments Credit card payments will no longer be accepted in person or over the phone. Fees associated with the processing of credit card payments represent a significant annual cost to the Town. Credit card payments can still be made using Virtual City Hall. Learn more about alternative payment options by calling 519-776-7336 ext 3050 or visiting:

essex.ca/taxes

KENNETH YARDWORKS  Spring Clean Up. Sod, mulch, eavestrough cleaning and repairs, power washing. Trees & bushes trimmed or removed. Loads to the dump. Fully licensed & insured. Free estimates. Call Kenneth: 519-982-0362. 11-tfn _____________________ STUDENT LAWNCARE SERVICES – Lawn cutting, weed whacking, weed pulling, mulch laying, garden edging, and more as needed. Call today and receive a freelawn estimate. Call: 519-988-9860. _____________________

We are invi ng applica ons for the following posi ons:

Interested applicants should send a le er of applica on and resume, including three references to: Pauline Gemmell, Execu ve Director Essex County Nurse Prac oner-Led Clinic 186 Talbot St. South Essex, ON N8M 1B6

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CLASSIFIED RATES

PLACING A CLASSIFIED AD: Classified ads can be submitted in person, by phone or fax or email from Mon. to Thurs. 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Fri. 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. All classified and personal ads require payment, prior to print. We accept Visa | MasterCard | Debit | Cash | Cheque. CLASSIFIED DEADLINE IS TUESDAY BY 10:00 AM

Phone 519.776.4268

STORAGE

_____________________ STORAGE FOR LEASE - in Essex. Approx. 1 acre outdoor, fenced-in storage. Call: 519-776-4875 for details. 02-1t _____________________

HELP WANTED

_____________________ HIRING! LANDSCAPE MAINTENANCE and LANDSCAPE LABOURERS, $18/hour, Experience necessary. Fax your resume to (519) 723-2336. 1-tf _____________________ HELP WANTED: Aphria Inc. is looking for Greenhouse Production Associates to join their team. Duties include daily crop maintenance, harvesting, crop rotation, inventory counts, and cleaning of greenhouse. No public transportation available. Located in Leamington, ON. Compensation starts at $14.00/hour. Full time hours Monday through Friday. Please apply at careers@aphria.com or mail resume to P.O. Box 20009 269 Erie St. S. Leamington, ON N8H 3C4. 9-t

I Thursday, June 18, 2020

Word Ads - 25 words or less ........................ $6.00 + HST Extra words .................................................... 20¢/word Display Classifieds ....................................... Call for rates

Email: contact@essexfreepress.com

_____________________

HELP WANTED

_____________________ HELP WANTED: Greenhouse and Packing line Labour. General greenhouse labour, duties include pruning, picking, planting and cleaning of greenhouse. Packing line labour, duties include inspecting, weighing and packing produce on assembly line. Lifting, bending and standing is required. Must be able to work all shifts. Rural area. No public transportation available. No specific education required. Experience is an asset. Rate of pay- $14.20. To apply please email: katie@policellafarms.com Or Mail to Domric International, PO Box 218, Ruthven ON N0P 2G0. 24/tfn _____________________

REAL ESTATE

_____________________ Buying or selling a farm? Do you know the right questions and answers? Farm Experienced Realtor Carl Idzinski, Keller Williams Lifestyles Realty - Brokerage. 519-817-8891. 22-tt _____________________

WANTED

_____________________ CASH PAID for scrap cars and trucks. Free removal. Please phone: 519-776-1361 or 519-791-5046. 46-t _____________________ WANTED - Buying for Cash GOLD + STERLING JEWELRY, ALL COINS - Mint sets + Loose Coins, Windup Watches, Military Items. KEEP AD 10% extra with this ad! Dan Jones B.A.B.Ed.52 yrs Exp. House calls available. 519-818-1805.

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_____________________ CASH PAID for antiques, costume jewellery, furniture, gold, sterling, coins, tools, complete estates. We take it all! Free appraisals. Call 519-727-8894. 1-tfn _____________________

PERSONAL

_____________________

PRAYER TO the Holy Spirit. Holy Spirit, You who makes me see everything and who shows me the way to reach my ideals. You who gives me the Divine Gift to forgive & forget all that is done to me, and you who are in all the instances of my life with me. I, in this short dialogue, want to thank you for everything, and confirm once more that I never want to be separated from you, no matter how great the material desires may be. I want to be with you and my loved ones in your perpetual glory. A person may pray this prayer three consecutive days without asking for their wish. It will be granted no matter how difficult it may be, and promise to publish this dialogue, as soon as your favor has been granted. E.P.

19-11t

Sell It! Find it! Rent It! Buy It! in The Classifieds

CLASSIFIEDS WORK! Advertise here!

519-776-4268

Read us online & in print

www.essexfreepress.com issuu.com/essexfreepress 16 Centre St., Essex contact@essexfreepress.com

519.776.4268


Thursday, June 18, 2020 I

News I 17

Essex Free Press

Phone lines open, services available for energy assistance submitted to EFP As communities across the country and province slowly begin to reopen, the fact is not lost that some people are still struggling to make ends meet amidst continued uncertainty around employment and industry guidelines. With Statistics Canada reporting Windsor’s unemployment rate sitting at 16.7 per cent in May, low income families and those currently living pay cheque to pay cheque are having to make difficult decisions regarding bill payment. While the Unemployed Help Centre (UHC) office doors remain closed for in-person assistance, phone lines are open Monday to Friday between 8:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. Anyone in need of help is urged to call the centre at 519-944-4900. the Specifically, Keep the Heat energy assistance program can aid qualified candidates with up to $500 per year to offset their energy bills. “We know there are still so many in our community who are desperate to keep a sense of normalcy for their families,” said June Muir, chief executive officer of UHC. “With temperatures beginning to really heat up, we want to ensure nobody is in the situation of having their utilities disconnected because of a possible lack of funds to pay a bill.” Muir is urging those who need assistance to

READ US ONLINE & IN PRINT contact@essexfreepress.com issuu.com/essexfreepress

16 CENTRE ST., ESSEX

519.776.4268 www.essexfreepress.com

phone UHC as soon as possible and not allow their energy bills to accumulate. Trained program contacts will be able to navigate clients through the registration process and answer any questions. A complete list of qualifications for the Keep the Heat program can be found online at uhc.ca/ keep-the-heat. Multiple service sites handling

applications around the city and county include: Can-Am Native NonProfit Homes, Housing Information Services, New Canadians’ Centre of Excellence and UHC in Windsor and Amherstburg Community Services, South Essex Community Council and UHC’s Belle River office in the county.

Voice Of Inspiration “The heart of a father is the masterpiece of nature.” ~ Prevost Abbe

COVID-19 case count & statistics updated information from the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit (WECHU) Windsor-Essex County COVID-19 Case Counts for: June 16, 2020 • 1,224 Confirmed cases This marks an increase of 26 cases from June 15, 2020. 14 cases are from the agri-farm sector. • 67 deaths • 713 resolved cases *Two (2) Current Long Term Care Homes & Retirement Home outbreaks. *One staff member from Village of Aspen Lake (reported June 14), Tecumseh and one staff member from Country Village Home (reported June 8), Woodslee Current Workplace Outbreaks There are currently, in the agriculturalfarm sector, three (3) outbreaks in Kingsville and six (6) in Leamington. Note: Workplace outbreak defined as two (2) or more employees testing positive for COVID-19 within a reasonable timeline to suspect transmission in the workplace. The information is provisional and

subject to change. As the WECHU continues to investigate individual cases, there will be corrections to the statuses and details that result in changes to this report. Unknown refers to cases still pending an investigation and/or data that is not known about a case. Cases in this dataset are reported based on Reported date. This is when the WECHU was notified of a positive test result. Travel includes travel outside of Windsor and Essex County. Resolved refers to cases that are recovered and cases that are not currently listed as hospitalized, self-isolated or in the ICU, those that are 14 days past symptom onset (if present) or 14 days past the episode date if the case is closed. Deaths among non-laboratory confirmed cases reported are not included. Reported deaths are only provided if COVID-19 has contributed to the cause of death. Additional details are available on the WECHU.org website.


18 I Personals Essex Free Press

FromThe Heart

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GRADUATION ANNOUNCEMENT

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To place a personal notice, email your photo and content to contact@essexfreepress.com or drop by our office at 16 Centre St., Essex. Personal notices must be received by Monday at 12:00 noon to appear in the Thursday edition. _________________________________________________________

IN LOVING MEMORY

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In loving memory of

Congratulations Grad! Congratulations Kage Bildfell, on your grade 8 graduation from Gosfield North Public School. Love from Mom & Dad, Brock, Coby, Grandma Schiller, Grandma Bildfell, Aunts, Uncle and Cousins. Good luck to a bright and promising future.

Larry Garrod Left us on June 18, 2019. You were a wonderful husband, and father, and the love of my life. I thank God for the 49 years we had together. I miss you and love you Always and forever without end. ~ Lorrie _________________________________________________

In memory of my father

W G “S ” He never looked for praises, he was never one to boast, He just went on working, for the ones he loved the most. He was there - A firm foundation, through all the storms of life. A sturdy hand to hold on to, in times of stress and strife. A true friend I could turn to, in times of good and bad. One of the greatest blessings, the man I called “my Dad.” I’ll always remember your special smile and your silly sense of homour. I love you and miss you so much. ~Happy Father’s Day! ~ - Nancy Also thinking of Larry (2019) and Gary (2018) at this time. _________________________________________________

In loving memory of

LARRY GARROD _______________________________________________

BIRTHDAY ANNOUNCEMENT

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Happy

One year ago, God called you home, Larry. Your mission on earth was completed. You lived your life taking care of and giving to others. Thank you for the loving care you gave to Jimmy in his final hours. Thanks for the wonderful memories and for everything. I am proud that you were my son-in-law. ~ Love you forever and always, Mom Boose and family

th

6 Birthday Elle

OBITUARIES

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COUVILLION, Louis - passed peacefully after a short battle with cancer, on Tuesday, June 9, 2020 at WRH Metropolitan Campus at 74 years of age. Beloved husband of Gail (nee Mayea) for 48 years. Proud and loving Dad of Louis Jr. (Liz Sampogna), Jason (Maryann Policella), Christine, Kevin and Mark. Dearest Papa of 13 grandchildren and four great grandchildren. Dear son of the late Wallace and Margaret Couvillion. Brother of Stanley (Judy), Barbara, Diane (Phil), Frank (Cheryl), Larry (Gidget), Gary and Lori. Son-in-law of the late Bernard and Marion Mayea and brother-in-law of Dave (Janis) and Wayne (Norina). Louis will also be remembered by the Bennett’s, his large extended family, his nieces, nephews and many friends. He was a long time member of the Royal Canadian Legion, Branch 201, Essex. He retired from the Heat & Frost Insulators Union after more than 30 years of service. After retirement, Louis and Gail enjoyed 17 winters in the south, along with travelling the country, where they made many new friends and memories. He enjoyed any time spent on the golf course, and out on his boat fishing. He will be forever remembered for his sense of humour and his practical jokes. The family would like to thank all of the medical staff at the W.R.C.C. for their care and kindness. Also, the palliative care unit at WRH Metropolitan Campus and especially, his V.O.N. nurse, Vicki Allison. Visitation was held at Reid Funeral Home & Cremation Centre, 87 Maidstone Ave. E., Essex (519-776-4233) on Friday, June 12, 2020. A Funeral Service to Celebrate Louis’ life will be held at a later date when covid restrictions lessen. The Bereavement Authority of Ontario has instituted the following directive. “The new maximum number of people who can be at a funeral home at one time (not including staff ) is 10 or fewer. This pertains to the entire funeral home.” If desired, memorial donations made to T2B Transition to Betterness, the V.O.N. or the W.R.C.C. would be appreciated. Families and friends may share their memories or make a donation online at www.reidfuneralhome.ca

Memorial verses available OBITUARIES

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Voice Of Inspiration ~ Pema Chödrön

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We love you!

“You are the sky. Everything else – it’s just the weather.”

I Thursday, June 18, 2020

What’s Going On... JUNE 24 - HARROW BLOOD DONOR CLINIC - Camoes Portuguese Club of Harrow, 390 Sinasac Street West, Harrow. 1-7pm - Make appointment at: www.blood.ca. JULY 15 - KINGSVILLE BLOOD DONOR CLINIC - Lakeside Park Pavilion - 315 Queen St., Kingsville.1-7pm - Make appointment at: www.blood.ca. AUG. 11 - ESSEX BLOOD DONOR CLINIC - Essex Masonic Lodge - 30 Laird Ave., Essex.1-7pm - Make appointment at: www.blood.ca. HIATUS HOUSE: offers counselling services in Essex County. Women’s Fresh Start group therapy is once a week. For info or to schedule an intake appointment, call the 24-hour Hiatus House helpline at 519-252-7781. SUN COUNTY LYME AWARENESS SUPPORT GROUP offers monthly support for Lyme disease patients, family, & friends. Look us up on Facebook for updates.

SCHWEITZER JACOBSEN, Stephanie - a wife, daughter, sister, stepmom left this world unexpectedly at the age of 36 on June 12, 2020. Raised in Essex, she attended Holy Name, Maplewood Public, and Essex District High School. For many years, she was a proud member of the Kingsville Essex Marching Band. She loved life and all it had to offer. She enjoyed boating, fishing, and travelling with her husband John-David. She was an avid cyclist. Stephanie was a loving, compassionate person who loved sharing meals with her friends and family. Celebrate the good memories you have of her. Remember life is fragile and short and should be lived to the fullest. She is survived by her husband, John-David, her step-children Emily and Madlyn, parents Peter and Mary Catherine (Bissonnette) Schweitzer, brother Andrew of Calgary, sister Annemarie Whitaker (Jared) of Arizona. Grandparents Arnold and Erica Schweitzer, aunts, uncles, and cousins. Predeceased by Grandparents, Dominic and Wilma Bissonnette, cousin Melanie Bissonnette, and aunt Sue Schweitzer. In lieu of flowers, donations would be appreciated in Stephanie’s memory to the Windsor United Way, On Track to Success, or Summer Reading Program. A private family service will be held in Waterloo on June 19th.


Thursday, June 18, 2020 I

Community Hub I 19

Essex Free Press

sponsorship by:

Fresh food. Friendly neighbours 191 Talbot St. S., Essex

519-776-4255 Salvation Army Essex Church submitted by Carolyn Barnett

Our Food Bank will operate by appointment only. Please call Vicki at: 519-776-4628 to make arrangements. Please keep in your prayers, all who are affected, in anyway by COVID-19.

Essex Christian Reformed Church submitted by Beverley Van Huizen

If you would like to live-stream a worship service, see: www.chathamgrace.com The service will begin at 10:00am. During these uncertain times let us keep calm and focus our eyes looking to our Risen Lord! We encourage all to keep in contact with each other through telephone calls or texting, while the church is closed. Visit Essex CRC online to listen to a past sermon or two. www.essexcrc.ca.

Holy Name of Jesus Church

Harrow United Church

Our Church will open on June 27 and 28 at regular Mass times, but only at 30% capacity. Please see full details on the guidelines to attend from the Diocese of London on our website at www.hnj.dol.ca. Fr. Dave is retiring the end of the month. Check out our website for details on a special event. The parish office will be closed the week of June 2226. Thank you to all of our front line workers who are protecting and keeping us safe. If anyone needs help, please call the church at: 519-776-8483. If you would like a weekly bulletin you can pick one up from the mailbox outside the parish office. The St. Vincent de Paul Society is collecting non-perishable goods and toiletries. The demand is high to help the needy in our community. Please drop off at the blue drum bin outside our parish office. Please drop off your Foodland grocery tapes, cancelled stamps, and leftover eyeglasses at the designated file drawers at the Info table. Please stay healthy and stay safe.

submitted by Larry Anderson

Please visit our website for updated messages on when services will begin. Our Minister, Rev. Darrow Woods, along with our HUC faith community, sincerely welcome you to join us! www.harrowunited.org.

Essex United Church

We will not open this Sunday, but hope to see you all soon! There are many guidelines and protocols to put in place and we want to do it right, and what is best for our congregation. The Essex Area Food Bank is available to anyone who needs assistance at this time in the gym, on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Hours open 8:30 - 11:45am.

Bethel-Maidstone United At this time, all church services and activities will be suspended until further notice. You can find us on the web at www.bethelmaidstone. com. Our email address is bmuc@xplornet.ca and the office number is (519) 723-2284. Our address is 933 Talbot Road, Maidstone (just off Manning Road at Cosy Corners).

St. Paul’s Anglican Church As we continue to navigate through this difficult time, know that we are still hard at work to provide you with the spiritual resources that you need. Visit our website (www. stpaulstrinity.org), social media or contact us by phone at: 519-776-7711. Stay safe and we hope to see you soon.

Woodslee United Church submitted by Sue Holman

Maidstone Cross

Regular Church Service as been cancelled. If you miss a mass service, please go to our website: Woodsleepatoralcharge.ca. Click on ‘Sermon’ and hear Rev. Carl’s spiritual message. Thank Rev. Carl, Marsha and Michael for sending out the special email, ‘Manse Musings’ each week. We love the special messages and recipes in it. If you are not receiving it, call the office at: 519-975-2252 with your email address. We are sorry but all events for June will not be held. Please stay safe and know that God loves you.

submitted by Wendy Cunningham

Trinity Anglican Church Please keep our church family and all those in need in your prayers. Rev. Chris has been doing a great job at giving us a Sunday message on our social media sites and Ann has also been great keeping us in touch with music. Make sure you follow these to keep us in touch with our Lord. Let us pray that we will all be together again soon. Keep safe, stay healthy, and God Bless.

St. Mary’s Church will be back to our regular Mass schedule on Sunday, June 21, but with only 30% capacity under the Diocese of London’s guidelines. Check out the website for further details or call Fr. Vince. Our Family of Parishes has been delayed due to the pandemic. The activation date has yet to be determined by the Diocese What do you get when you Just of London. combine an elephant with a fish? Unfortunately, St. Mary’s Joking! Swimming trunks! Park has cancelled the 2020 Baseball program. Please keep in your prayers all of the people who are sick, shut-in, and in Hospice care. Please stay healthy and safe!

Activity Answers below... from Page 8 Do fish go on vacation? No, because they’re always in school!


20 I Business Directory Essex Free Press

I Thursday, June 18, 2020

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Thursday, June 18, 2020 I

News / Business Directory I 21

Essex Free Press

Leamington Council votes to end OPP contract

by Sylene Argent Last Tuesday, at its regular meeting, Leamington Council voted to give the required one-year notice to end its OPP contract. The OPP has provided the municipality of around 30,000 with its policing service since 2010. At the meeting, Mayor Hilda MacDonald brought forward a Notice of Motion that she presented at the previous meeting, for discussion. MacDonald, explained back in December, Leamington renewed its three-year contract, but planned to move forward with looking at other opportunities. “The decision in December, to renew the contract for three-years, was based on Council’s fear that if we didn’t renew it, we would have reduced service; we wouldn’t have a Police Services Board, we wouldn’t have access to some of the things [offered through the OPP]. That was the fear, but the contract said, we could terminate at anytime, [but] would have to give a year’s notice.” MacDonald said. Leamington’s OPP police service costs around $5.4

million a year, which equates to around 18 percent of its tax levy. Last year, she said there was a six-percent increase. “It was quite astounding for us,” she said. Last month, Leamington issued a policing survey for residents and employees, as a way to garner public feedback. In February, a consultant, Michael Mitchell of MPM Consulting, was obtained to prepare a report regarding establishing minimum desired levels of police service in the Municipality. MacDonald said, to her knowledge, the survey is not finished yet, but heard there has been a lot of response. The consultant has contacted Council members, in addition to those who have interactions with the police and the Police Services Board for inperson interview. That report is expected to go before Leamington Council next month. She added the year’s notice of termination still gives Leamington the same level of service, with a Police Services Board in tact, until the year’s up. After that point, if no alternative is set in place, the OPP would remain as the police service provider pursuant to section 5.1 of the Police Services Act. In a Report to Council on the matter, it notes a community that is serviced by the OPP under section 5.1 is not eligible for the Community Safety and Policing and RIDE grants and is not eligible for enhancements. For the next step, Leamington is doing its homework, MacDonald said. Plans are in the works, after the consultant report is ready in July, to have a meeting with her, Leamington’s CAO, and Amherstburg’s Mayor and CAO in regards to the contract it signed with the Windsor Police Service last year. “We want to look at their contract...we want to use that almost as a baseline.” She wants to have

conversations with the Amherstburg reps as to what they like and what they do not like. From there, conversations will continue with members of Leamington Council. MacDonald said the consultant will talk about the survey responses and make some recommendations. Council will discuss and digest, then give him direction as to what Leamington Council wants in a Request for Proposal. That Request for Proposal will go out to all police services that are willing, including LaSalle, Windsor, and Chatham-Kent. At that time, there will be consideration for pricing, “Even though that’s not driving our bus at the moment,” she said. “And then, we will go from there.” She added if no services make a submission, the municipality will have to figure out what to do next. “Always on the horizon, are going back to municipal source and also looking for an interregional policing, too. So, we have a multitude of options, I believe, that

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22 I Opinion / News Essex Free Press

I Thursday, June 18, 2020

Work continues with watermain improvements on Gordon, Wilson 1948 Chevy with same owner since 1982

Richard Brimblecombe’s 1948 Chevrolet convertible.

Richard Brimblecombe of Drayton, Ontario, was born in 1945 and learned to drive a tractor on the family farm. He drove his dad’s 1950 Pontiac to pass his driver’s test in 1961. When Dad traded in his ’50 Pontiac for a ’58 Pontiac, Richard traded his 4-H calf for the ’50 Pontiac. Now fast forward to the early 1980s. By that time, Richard and Linda had been married for 15 years and Richard had a good friend who operated Port Perry Auto Wreckers where a 1948 Chevy convertible had arrived from Texas. Richard drove to Port Perry and bought the convertible. The odometer showed just over 27,000 miles and the car had been repainted maroon around 1971. The original colour was green. The overhead valve six cylinder engine with 216 cubic inches and 90 horsepower had a vacuum-powered manual gearshift on the steering column. The car needed some work and Richard was ably assisted by Blaine Jenkins, who worked for GM in Michigan and owned the #1 ’48 Chev convertible in the world. It was the Pace Car at the Indy 500 in an anniversary year. That car provided Richard with many patterns to restore his own car. Hampton Motor Coach installed a new interior and a new convertible top while retaining the original small glass rear window. Richard had the car finished by 1986. About seven years ago, Richard decided to turn his all-original 1948 Chevrolet convertible into a resto-rod by keeping the outside completely stock while bringing the mechanical features up to modern day standards. The original six cylinder engine with 216.5 cubic inches came out and was replaced by a 350 Chevy V8 engine that had been sitting in Richard’s garage. It is now rebuilt and in the car. The entire original drive train was sold to a man who is restoring a 1947 Chevrolet coupe. A friend built a 4-speed automatic for Richard’s ’48 and matched it to a Camaro rear end. The driveshaft was shortened by Harman in Kitchener. The automatic transmission has a Lockhart single-stick shift that looks original. Since then, the car has travelled 15,000 miles trouble-free, including a recent 9000 mile-trip to Newfoundland covering five-and-a-half weeks.

I’m always looking for stories. Email billtsherk@sympatico.ca.

by Sylene Argent For the past few weeks, contractors have been working to replace watermains along Gordon Avenue and Wilson Avenue in Essex Centre. The improvement project will likely go on over an eight-week period. As set out in the 2020 budget, the Gordon/Wilson/Station Street project was budget for asphalt milling and resurfacing, and is to be completed jointly with the watermain replacement. This will be at a cost of $150,000 for

the resurfacing and $850,000 for the watermain replacements. Richard Beausoleil, Manager, Capital Works and Infrastructure, said the first phase of the project is the Wilson Avenue watermain. From there, the Gordon Avenue watermain will be completed. When the watermains are replaced, any needed minor concrete repairs, such as on sidewalks or curbs, will be completed. Then, a milling machine will be brought in to grind up two-inches of the existing

Continued on Page 23

Joyeuse fête des Pères

Sunday, June 21, 2020 Sunda

Taras Natyshak MPP for Essex 316 Talbot Street N. Unit 5, Essex, ON N8M 2E1

519-776-6420 www.tarasnatyshak.ca


Thursday, June 18, 2020 I

Community / News I 23

Essex Free Press

Tune up the Parks goes digital

The first performance in the Tune up the Parks online summer concert series was Karen Moran, a singer/songwriter from Windsor, on Monday night. She was joined by the Bosco Boys. Moran has been a staple in the annual concert series.

by Garrett Fodor As the days get longer and temperatures begin to rise, the Town of Essex is hoping to give residents a sense of normalcy at a time of uncertainty. For more than five years, the Town of Essex has opened up parks in Harrow, McGregor, Colchester, and Essex Centre, to bring the community together, while celebrating the arts. The summer music series, called ‘Tune Up the Parks,’ has featured live local entertainment twice weekly, with performances

taking place in local parks throughout the municipality. But, with COVID-19 closing parks and forcing social distancing protocols, this year’s edition of the series will be different from years’ past. Performances will not be in person, but will instead be going digital. The series will be live Mondays and Wednesday at 7 pm on the Town’s Facebook page and the performances will later be upload to YouTube. The series kicks off on June 15, and Cynthia

Cakebread, who is the Manager of Recreation and Culture for the Town of Essex, said the series will continue this way until they are able to safely resume in person concerts. She notes that muscians who were scheduled to perform have been asked if they would like to participate digitally. “This is definitely an opportunity to showcase and spotlight some of our homegrown talent to people outside of the Town of Essex,” Cakebread said. “It has been part of an overall Town effort to continue to

provide, where possible, the services our citizens expect. We have seen great success with Tune Up the Parks in the past, so we wanted to continue to offer it in any way possible.” With the series going digital, Cakebread said she is happy with the new opportunity this brings. Performances will not require good weather; people can enjoy the music from their homes and they can share it with friends and family all over the world in real time. “Much like the Essex Plays at Home initiative, posting events online can break down some geographic barriers and this is yet another way we can show what Essex has to offer. While the series might be geared towards people from the Town of Essex, we certainly welcome any others who’d like to stop by to listen.” Musicians are invited to contact Janice at jaloisio@ essex.ca to get involved. Show openings and a full list of performances will be posted at www.essex.ca/ TuneUpTheParks.

Work continues with watermain improvements... Continued from Page 22

asphalt, and two inches of new asphalt will be laid in the Wilson Avenue, Gordon Avenue, Fox Street, Station Street, and Scratch Street corridor. New fire hydrants will also be added. Beausoleil said the main reason this project went forward this year was because of the age of the existing watermains, which date back to 1968 and 1969. The watermains will be improved in size as well. He said the current 4-inch pipes will be upgraded to 6-inches, which will allow for a better flow of water and better fire protection. He suspects this construction project could go for another month to six weeks. The Gordon Avenue, Wilson Avenue, and Station Street project was added to the budget last year, but did not go ahead as planned. Beausoleil said this was due to legal issues with tendering. In addition, is the current watermain, storm sewer, resurfacing, and sidewalk project is being done on Queen Street in Harrow. The Essex Centre and Harrow Centre projects come in for a combined total of just over $2M. As the Queen Street works began earlier than the Essex Centre project, he hopes the Harrowbased project will be done within the next couple of weeks. Starting the Harrow project first was a strategic move, due to COVID-19, Beausoleil said. All the works are outside the travel portion of the road. If the Town got orders from the Province that construction had to stop because of the virus, that job could have been stopped fairly easily. The Essex Centre portion was put into the second phase because it is taking place in the road allowance. “If the Province stopped us, we would have caused disruption and congestion that we did not want to have,” he said of the Essex Centre road project.


24 I News Essex Free Press

Leamington Council votes to end OPP contract... Ontario; nope. Refused to do it,” she said. What led Leamington Council to believe it needed more officers patrolling was that “the police presence was not being seen,” MacDonald said, adding there is a feeling there has been a crime wave as of late. MacDonald added, “We are not dissatisfied with our officers at all. We want more officers. That’s what this is about.” Inspector Miller sent out a response to Leamington’s decision to news outlets. It reads that the OPP respects the recent decision of Leamington Council to end its policing agreement with the Ontario Provincial Police.

“We are not dissatisfied with our officers at all. We want more officers.” - Leamington Mayor, Hilda MacDonald. Pictured left.

we will look at.” The next year will be one where Leamington’s reps will review, evaluate, plan, and get ready for implementation of the new service. Establishing a police force for Leamington is not off the table, but MacDonald said it would take more than a year, likely two years, to get to that point. She said many constituents would like to see this. She said Leamington does have an

advantage in that it still owns its policing facility. “That is a bigger project, but not off the table,” she said. What led Leamington Council to this decision, followed after having a meeting with upper level administrators of the OPP, including Inspector and Detachment Commander, Glenn Miller. “We asked for numbers. We wanted to know what our complement is, how many officers are there

on a shift. They didn’t tell us. They refused to tell us.” MacDonald said the higher-level administrative reps of the OPP were asked what the minimum is when it comes to officers patrolling at a time and what are the response times. She said they would not divulge that information. “There was an unwillingness to share with us what it is that we are paying for,” MacDonald said. “For us, we would not be doing our due diligence if we did not [get that information], so we could tell our taxpayers ‘this is what we are paying for.” MacDonald said Leamington had offered to provide more funding for more boots on the ground, “Because we are

like a city.” She said they were told that could not be done because it does not fit the model. The municipality could purchase special services, such as a canine handler. Council then asked, if when that person is not conducting their special service, could they be used as a boots on the ground officer, and was told, ‘no.’ “So, it is a matter of accountability. We need to be able to say this is how many officers we have,” she said, adding they would also like to know what the minimum number of police serving at a time is, if officers are replaced on parental or sick leave, or on vacation. “We tried to convince them to make us different, make us a special case, because we are not rural Ontario, we are urban

I Thursday, June 18, 2020

Continued from Page 21

“As Essex County OPP Detachment Commander, I wish to express my sincere appreciation and unwavering support for the hard work, commitment to the community, and dedication our officers display every day in providing professional policing services to the citizens of Leamington. I am immensely proud of our members and civilians who have served in Leamington, as is all of the OPP. We look forward to fulfilling our obligations as outlined in the present Agreement between the Town of Leamington and the Ministry of the Solicitor General.”

Voice Of Inspiration “An acquaintance merely enjoys your company, a fair-weather companion flatters when all is well, a true friend has your best interests at heart and the pluck to tell you what you need to hear.” ~ E.A. Bucchianeri

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1485 Lauzon Rd., Windsor

PHONE 519.944.2271 • TOLL FREE 866.860.9494 1485 LAUZON ROAD • WINDSOR, ONTARIO N8S 3N2

LIMIT 1 COUPON PER ORDER – EXPIRES DECEMBER 31, 2020 NOT VALID ON PREVIOUS PURCHASES OR FOR USE WITH ANY OTHER OFFERS


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